Nagasaki island shrine draws tourists

Nagasaki island shrine draws tourists

FUKUOKA, Japan - A causeway that appears only during low tide leading to Kojima Shrine, a Shinto site on an islet off Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, is seen on Sept. 14, 2014. The site, likened to France's Mont Saint-Michel abbey, is attracting more visitors.

Nagasaki island shrine draws tourists

Nagasaki island shrine draws tourists

FUKUOKA, Japan - A causeway that appears only during low tide leading to Kojima Shrine, a Shinto site on an islet off Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, is seen on Sept. 14, 2014. The site, likened to France's Mont Saint-Michel abbey, is attracting more visitors.

Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, held in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., faces the Tama Shrine at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Aug. 11, 2015. Nitama assumed the role of stationmaster that day to succeed Tama, a cat credited with rescuing the railway from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, held in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., "offers prayers" to the Tama Shrine at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Aug. 11, 2015. At front is a bronze statue of Tama, a cat credited with rescuing the railway from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Year of Boar in 2019

Year of Boar in 2019

Ietaka Kuki (L), chief priest of the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, and Hiroyoshi Kojima, stationmaster of JR Wakayama Station, pose for a photo at the station in the western Japan prefecture on Nov. 28, 2018. Kuki donated an "ema" votive tablet (L) from the shrine bearing an illustration of a boar ahead of the Year of the Boar in the Oriental zodiac. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Year of Boar in 2019

Year of Boar in 2019

Ietaka Kuki (L), chief priest of the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, and Hiroyoshi Kojima, stationmaster of JR Wakayama Station, pose for a photo at the station in the western Japan prefecture on Nov. 28, 2018. Kuki donated an "ema" votive tablet from the shrine bearing an illustration of a boar ahead of the Year of the Boar in the Oriental zodiac. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo